Ombudsman should be apolitical: Antony

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 24. The Ombudsman which has been formed for probing the allegations of corruption in the three-tier panchayat system, should not be allowed to be politicised in any manner by being infiltrated with members owing allegiance to political parties, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A. K. Antony, has said.

ddressing a Meet-the-Press programme at the Ernakulam Press Club on Wednesday, Mr. Antony demanded that two members of the Ombudsman who were reported to be followers of the CPI(M) should be called back.

He wondered how independent and impartial functioning of the Ombudsman could be ensured with two of its members being CPI(M) supporters. This itself revealed the Government's lack of interest in inquiring into the corruption charges.

The LDF Government was totally uninterested in putting an end to the practice of corruption in the three-tier panchayat system, according to Mr. Antony.

Mr. Antony demanded dissolving the expert committees constituted to assist the project drafting the People's Plan Campaign in panchayats, since these committees were formed to ensure CPI(M) control over decision-making in panchayats.

Reminding the call given by the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, in Thiruvananthapuram the other day, for transcending political considerations in development issues, Mr. Antony called for ending politicisation of the three-tier panchayats and concepts of decentralisation.

According to the Panchayati Raj Act, the elected bodies of the panchayats have the full right for preparing their local development projects, Mr. Antony said. The formation of committees with CPI(M) supporters above the panchayats was contrary to the spirit of the Panchayati Raj system, he said.

Mr. Antony called for constituting a committee comprising representatives of all political parties along with planning experts to take the People's Plan movement and decentralisation forward more effectively, transcending political considerations, at least at the next stage.

There should be a bold review and analysis of the Plan Campaign during the last four years, demanded Mr. Antony.

He called for a regular system for auditing the expenses incurred by the local bodies during the decentralisation process.

The squander, extravagance and politicisation of the Plan Campaign should go, so that the projects for people's welfare could be taken forward, he said.

Referring to issue of arrack ban, Mr. Antony said that illicit liquor was spreading in Kerala in alarming proportions. This has become an accepted factor, pointed out Mr. Antony, with even the LDF convener, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, admitting the presence of illicit liquor in the toddy shops in the State and accusing of the collusion of the police and excise staff in the spread of illicit liqour.

Mr. Antony said that even the Excise and police personnel were aware of the problem.

He accused the LDF Government of trying to prove that the ban on arrack in the State was a failure, by refusing to check the spread of the spurious arrack. This could be proved by the fact that not even a single case has been registered for brewing illicit liquor, he said.

Mr. Antony said the Government was desisting from recalling the arrack ban fearing the wrath of the housewives in the State. He warned of severe reactions if the arrack ban instituted by the previous UDF Government were revoked.

On Mr. K. Karunakaran's statement on the leadership issue, Mr. Antony said that the Congress(I) workers had every right to voice their opinion, since the party assured freedom of expression, unlike other political parties.

Referring to the new ventures being made by the CPI(M), Mr. Antony said that the CPI(M) had become one of the richest institutions in India. The revised party programme of the CPI(M) was almost the same as what the Congress (I) had said 50 years ago, said Mr. Antony.

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